Poison & Wine
Chapter 27
"What do you mean he stole her bracelet?" Regina asked after the sheriff and her pirate mascot barged into her office unannounced. "Why would he-"
Emma interrupted her. "To find Robin Hood." She explained. "He still thinks that your true love is Robin Hood."
"And Neal thinks that bringing him here would break us up." The mayor finished for her with a groan. She rubbed her forehead. "We just got back and now we have to deal with this?" She complained. "Your exes are a pain in the ass."
The blonde nodded her head in agreement. "I can't argue with that."
Regina sat down her forms on her desk and stood up. "We have to go to Gold."
"Why?" Killian asked. He preferred to avoid the dark one as much as possible. "Can't you just make another bracelet?"
The older woman grabbed her pea coat and put it on. "I could, that's not why we need Gold."
"Why do we need Gold?" Emma asked.
The former queen buttoned her coat as she spoke. "Traveling realms by water isn't an easy thing to do. It's dangerous, especially for someone who's never don't it before." She told the pair.
"Gold could know what Neal is doing already." The sheriff argued. "God knows what side Gold is on."
Regina shook her head. "Neal stole the bracelet from Ariel. If the dark one was on board then he could have easily made one for his pride and joy. I'm guessing Gold knows nothing about this."
"So we're going to tattle tale on the guy?" Hook raised an eyebrow.
The mayor looked at him. "Why are you here?" She turned to her girlfriend. "I thought he was your receptionist?"
The blonde sighed. "I gave David and day off so Hook is helping out."
"And who's answering your phones?" A brown eyebrow rose. "Who's watching our puppies?"
"I called Ruby to fill in with answering phones and watching the puppies." Emma informed her. "Can we go? I think we have more pressing matters at hand, baby. I'd kinda like to avoid Robin Hood coming into town and trying to steal you from me."
She went to walk away, but the mayor grabbed her said. "Hey." The brunette called, pulling her close and looking into green eyes. "Nobody can steal me from you, Emma." She assured. "Especially not some stupid thief."
Emma nodded, but she still didn't want to take any chances. "Let's go talk to Gold."
The trio entered Gold's Pawnshop and heard the bell ring to alert the storeowner. Belle was behind the counter and looked up when she heard the familiar ring. A smile spread on her face that only diminished slightly when she saw who it was. While everyone was on good terms, the auburn brunette was always slightly worried that would change. "Hi." She greeted.
Emma leaned against the counter and grinned at her. "Hey, Belle. Is Gold here?"
She shook her head. "He's down at Granny's picking up rent." The book of records in front of her closed. "Why? What's this about?" Her gaze moved from Hook to Regina landing on the savior again.
"It's about Neal." The blonde confessed. "Have you seen him lately?"
Belle shook her head. "I'm afraid not. Him and Rumple had a falling out a few days ago. Did he do something?"
The sheriff could tell that the former maid was truly clueless about the whole situation. "He took something from Ariel and now we can't find him."
Blue eyes widened slightly. "Oh? What did he take?"
Regina spoke before her girlfriend could. "He stole the bracelet I made for Ariel to have legs."
"Why would he need that? He'd have no use for it." The pawn worker questioned in confusion.
"I made the bracelet to give the mermaid legs, but it's also capable of working in reserve. I tweaked it a bit in Neverland, just in case that dull Prince Eric wanted to live in the sea with his woman." The former queen explained.
Emma grinned slightly at her girlfriend. "That's almost sweet of you."
Brown eyes rolled. "Yes and see where that got us? We have your missing ex-boyfriend robbing helpless mermaids."
Realization hit her and the younger woman grabbed the brunette's arm. "Ariel." She said. "She has a fin."
"That's what mermaid means, dear." Regina teased slightly.
The blonde shook her head. "No, I mean she's still in the water. She probably followed Neal."
"Mermaid fight?" Hook chuckled at the thought. "Sounds hilarious."
The former queen ignored him. "How would that help us? If she followed him, it's not like she could get out of the water and stop him from getting Robin Hood."
"Why is he trying to get Robin Hood?" Belle was confused.
"He's an idiot and thinks that the thief is my true love." Regina revealed to the younger brunette.
"I don't… I'm sorry I still don't understand." The blue-eyed woman confessed.
Emma decided to further elaborate. "Neal wants to get back together with me and thinks that if Regina leaves me that he'll have a chance."
"Which will never happen, so this whole mission of his is moot." Brown eyes rolled as she crossed her arms.
Belle grabbed her phone. "I'll call Rumple and tell him to hurry down here." She stated.
They were all waiting for around ten minutes until Mr. Gold finally made his appearance. "Well if it isn't the happy couple… and you." The man looked at Killian before walking pas them all and behind the counter. "What's the emergency, dearies?"
"Your son can't get over the fact that him and Miss Swan are over." Regina glared.
The sheriff rubbed a comforting hand up and down her lover's back. "Neal took Ariel's bracelet and is headed for the Enchanted Forest." She informed him.
Rumplestiltskin looked surprised. "He's travelling the water? By himself?"
"There's a chance Ariel is with him or not far behind." The savior said.
Killian nodded. "Yeah, I called Eric and he said he hasn't seen Ariel since her bracelet was stolen."
Regina cleared her throat. "You know how dangerous it is travel realms through the dark waters."
"Ursula." The dark one grumbled with hatred before he slammed his hand down on the counter. "Why?" He questioned. "Why would he travel realms?"
"For Robin Hood." Emma revealed.
Gold's nostrils flared in anger. "I told him that finding that stupid thief was pointless."
Regina raised an eyebrow. "Did he tell you why he wanted to find him?"
"To get Miss Swan back." The older man informed the group. "I told him two days ago that there was nothing he could do about true love." He motioned between the mayor and the sheriff.
"Wait," The former queen held up her hand, "how do you know that Emma is my true love?"
Gold scoffed. "Please. Why do you think I chose you to enact the curse? I couldn't have possibly known the savior was to have a baby in her teenage years. The original plan for breaking the curse was true loves kiss between you two. Although, I must say that having the boy helped. Who knows how long Miss Swan would have stayed without him here."
"So you knew the whole time?" Regina hissed at him. "You knew when she came into town, when you started that fire at city hall-"
The dark one nodded. "Indeed I did, dearie. And as predicted, the sheriff couldn't leave you behind. She cared too much."
Emma could feel things turning sore so she banged her hand down on the counter. "Look, none of that matters right now. We need to find a way to get Neal back without Robin Hood in tow."
"How?" Mr. Gold questioned.
Regina straightened her posture. "I'll go after him." She suggested before making a bracelet and holding it in her hand.
"No way." The blonde shook her head vehemently. "We don't know what Neal is willing to do to you."
"Bae is not a murderer, Miss Swan." Mr. Gold assured her. "He's a heartbroken young man."
"One who chose to steal from a mermaid and travel all the way back to the Enchanted Forest for some guy he barely knows!" Emma pointed out. "We don't know what he's capable of."
Regina shook her head. "He won't hurt me. Regardless of how he feels about us being together, he knows that if I'm harmed in any way then he loses any chance he's ever had with you. That's why he went for Robin Hood. He wants me to leave you so he can swoop in and be the hero."
"You aren't going after him." The sheriff summed up firmly. "I won't allow it."
A perfectly crafted eyebrow rose. "You won't allow it?"
Emma swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. "That's right."
The queen scoffed.
"You're being childish." Regina informed her girlfriend as they stood at the beach together. Hook stood several feet away looking for any sign of Ariel or Neal.
"And you're being selfish." Emma argued. "You said several times how treacherous crossing realms is underwater and now you're going head first into danger?" She exclaimed. "What if something happens? What if you don't come back? I can't…" Emotions were running high and Emma was trying not to cry. The thought of losing her true love physically hurt her. She didn't want to even think about it, but the second her girlfriend entered that water it would become a very real possibility. "If I lose you… I don't know how-"
The older woman grabbed the blonde's face and softly stroked her cheeks. "I'll come back to you." She vowed.
Emma shook her head, not believing it. "You can't promise that to me. Even if you do make it to the Enchanted Forest, you don't know what's waiting for you over there! I went there, baby and there's ogres."
"And I'm a powerful witch, honey." Regina reminded her. "You need to let me do this." She told her.
"I can do it." The savior said. "Give me the bracelet instead."
Regina scoffed. "So you can die the second you run into Ursula? No. I'm going. I'm the only one who can."
"What if you run into Ursula?" The blonde demanded to know.
Brown eyes rolled in frustration. They were loosing precious time. The longer they argued, the further away Neal was getting, Ariel probably in tow. "Me and Ursula go way back. I'll be fine."
Emma bit her lip, angry at the whole situation. "I don't like this." She admitted.
"And I don't like the fact that your ex-boyfriend is constantly trying to drive a wedge between us, but we do have to get him back, if only to keep peace with the dark one."
"Fuck that." The younger woman yelled. "I don't need peace with the dark one if you're going to die for it."
Regina groaned. "Emma. I love you more than anything. I swear to you that I'll return." She kissed her lips gently. "We do have Henry's first football game on Friday and I can't possibly miss that."
Emma still didn't like the situation, but she felt a little bit better. "Please come back."
The mayor nodded and kissed her sweetly. "I'll be back by tomorrow, at the latest. Take care of our boys for me?" She asked.
With a nervous grin, Emma kissed her again. "I love you. Be safe."
"I promise I'll be safe. I love you too, dear." Regina walked into the cold water and put the bracelet on.
Emma started to panic. "Wait!" She yelled and hopped into the chilly tide. "Make another bracelet." She begged. "We can go together."
The older woman shook her head. "I'll be back, Miss Swan." She reassured her once again. "Trust me."
Her girlfriend was left behind when she dove into the deep water; her fin functioning properly and taking her into the depths of the ocean. Emma had no other choice but to trust her. She could do nothing else but stare at the rippling water, praying to God that her lover would be okay.
Three hours past and Emma was still standing on the shore, looking at undisturbed water. Killian watched his friend staring desperately at the ocean. He had left her alone for a while, but it was almost time for her to pick up Henry, so he walked towards her and rubbed her back in comfort. "We have to go soon, love." He made sure to keep his tone gentle and kind.
Emma didn't even move. She just continued to gaze into the sea. "I shouldn't have let her go." She grumbled.
"You couldn't have stopped her, Swan." He went to wrap his arm around her, but was pushed away.
The sheriff walked back into the ocean. "No. Get away." She didn't want anything at the moment, but to get her girlfriend back.
Hook followed the stubborn woman into the cold sea. "Swan-"
"I fucking released her into whatever the hell is under here!" She kicked and splashed at the water in anger. "And if she never comes back I'll lose the arguably the best thing that has ever happened to me!"
"Swan-" He tried again.
Emma wouldn't let him get a word in. "I'm such an idiot!" She screamed and looked at her best friend. "Why'd I let her go? Why didn't you stop me?" She pushed him backwards and grumbled. "I swear on everything I love that if Neal somehow makes his way back and Regina doesn't I'm going to kill him! Not 'ha-ha' laugh and joke kill him. I'm literally going to stop his heart from beating!" She threatened.
Killian grabbed her face and pointed it towards an area where he saw Ariel swimming towards them. The blonde quickly swatted away his hands and swam, fully clothed towards the mermaid. Hook ran a hand through his hair. "One down, two to go." He mumbled before swimming towards the redhead as well.
"Where's Regina? Did you see her?" Emma panicked to know.
Ariel didn't know what to say. "She's with Neal." The mermaid decided on.
That wasn't good enough for the sheriff. "Where? Are they okay? What happened?"
"Let her get a word in, Swan!" Killian said firmly.
"They're coming…" The redhead hoped. "Regina, she sent back to tell you that she's coming."
"Where is she?" The blonde demanded firmly.
Ariel took a deep breath. "They're with Ursula." She confessed.
Emma felt her heart sink. Unshed tears started burning in her eyes. Something inside her flicked on and her mind went to Henry. Her son. The son she shared with Regina would be getting out of school soon and someone had to be there to pick him up. She ran a soaked hand through her hair and turned away from the mermaid without a word. Her feet started walking out of the water.
Killian watched her walk away. "Swan?" He knew the blonde had switched into an autopilot mode so she wouldn't breakdown. He held up a finger to indicate to Ariel that he needed a minute before he ran after the sheriff. "Love, where are you going?"
The savior didn't answer. She just kept walking in her soaked to the bone clothes towards the school. Tears weren't falling but boy did she feel an overwhelming wave of hopelessness cross over her. Her true love was in the bottom of sea with some evil ocean bitch, probably being tortured or killed and Emma had just let her follow dumb ass Neal.
Hook caught up to her and grabbed her arm. "Swan, you need to stop." When he turned her around and their eyes met, Emma broke down. Sorrow flooded the pirate at the tortured look the blonde was sporting. "Come here." He coaxed.
The wall of strength Emma built up crumbled as Killian brought her into his arms hugged her tight. The sheriff cried into his soaking wet clothes and clutched him tight. "She has to come back." She sobbed.
Killian stroked the younger woman's hair softly, kissing the top of her head. "She will." He promised. "Regina is a survivor, Swan. She'll fight her way back to you and to Henry and you'll be the same happy ridiculous couple you've been for months."
Their embrace was a good outlet for Emma, but she still felt utterly shattered. Her true love had better come back to her. She had to go get Henry, but she wasn't sure she could look at him and talk about Regina's whereabouts without crying and breaking down like she had just done with Hook.
She wiped her tears and looked up at the pirate. "I have to go pick up Henry."
Hook shook his head. "No. Call Charming and tell him to do it."
"I can't." She assured the man. "He doesn't know anything that's going on and my phone is… well ruined." The blonde dug it out of her soaked pocket and displayed the device.
Killian took a deep breath. "Fine. My phone is in the car. I'll call the prince and tell him you're busy with paperwork."
Emma swallowed the lump in her throat. "What if she doesn't make it back tonight?"
The pirate lovingly kissed her forehead. "If she doesn't make it back tonight, she'll make it back tomorrow."
"What if-"
Hook shook his head, cutting her off. "No. Swan. Stop-"
Green eyes widened when she saw her girlfriend swimming towards the shore with what looked to be an unconscious Neal on her arm. "Regina." She whispered breathlessly before running towards them.
Ariel swam over to the former queen and Neal, helping her carry him close to shore. When they got close to Emma, Regina removed her bracelet and dragged the man's body to shore with the help of her girlfriend where Hook was waiting to take some of the heavy weight. Regina tossed Ariel the bracelet for her legs and took off Neal's.
"What happened?" The pirate asked Regina as he checked for a pulse. There was one, but it was slow and with all the gashes on his body, he was worried.
Emma helped Regina stand up fully and grabbed her face. The guilty feeling in the pit of her stomach evaporated the second she looked into those familiar brown eyes she loved so much. "You're never leaving me again." She instructed breathlessly.
Regina offered her a small smile before she kissed the blonde quickly. "Never." She swore. "But Neal needs a hospital. Ursula was pretty brutal."
After making sure the mayor was stable, Emma nodded. She kissed her girlfriend one last time before turning to her ex-boyfriend. "Okay. You're right." She went into sheriff mode. "Baby, poof yourself and Neal to the hospital. Hook and me will be right behind you in the car. I'll call Gold on the way and tell my dad to pick up Henry and watch him until you're discharged."
"Discharged?" The brunette questioned. "I don't-"
"Shut-up. You're going to get looked over by Whale before we go home." Emma said sternly. "I love you. I'll see you at the hospital."
A puff of purple smoke clouded them and when it faded, her girlfriend and ex-boyfriend had disappeared. "Let's get going." She told Hook.
"Mind if I tag along?" Ariel questioned.
The savior shook her head. "Not at all. Come on."
"Baelfire looked pretty bad." Killian noted as they walked towards the car. "What the hell did Ursula do to her?"
Emma shook her head before opening the driver side door. "I don't know, but when Gold finds out about it, Ursula will pay."
I wrote this chapter several different ways, but I decided to go with this way. Let me knowhow you liked it! Next chapter you'll find out what happened to Neal & how Regina helped. He won't be such a douche anymore. I know this chapter was short, so next one will be long. It will be posted on Wednesday.
But before I go, I just want to say how awesome everyone is! Over 100 favorites, 200 reviews, and 300 follows. You're all amazing! Until next time, guys!